How to survive LeWeb 2010: a guide for start-up CEOs

Who to see, what to do, and how to avoid getting overwhelmed by Europe's
largest tech conference

Loic Le Meur on stage at LeWeb in 2006Photo: Heiko Hebig

By Milo Yiannopoulos

12:04PM GMT 16 Nov 2010

Europe's largest - and most daunting - gathering of geeks is almost upon us. LeWeb's 2010 incarnation promises to be bigger and even more extravagant than ever before. But before I get into telling you how to prepare for the mother of all tech conferences, I suppose first of all you should think about whether it's for you.

First things first: the tickets aren't cheap (although there are plenty of sneaky discounts around if you're smart). And then there's the travel and hotel to consider. But aside from the fact that you can lump all that under marketing spend - especially if you follow the tips below - to be honest it's money well spent, whatever stage your company's at.

Why? Well, without going into too much of sales pitch on organiser Loïc Le Meur's behalf, there's a lot on offer - most importantly the opportunity to grab any one of 2,500 attendees from over 60 countries, including some of the biggest names in tech, and the chance to show off your start-up or Next Big Idea to whoever you can lay your hands on - including about 500 journalists. (That sounds like a huge number of journos per start-up, but as a CEO that's to your advantage: just think how many of them you'll be able to get hold of if you're clever about it.) All the big tech firms are there - Google, Facebook, Twitter, you name it - and a healthy smattering of investors. Plus there's the usual keynotes, panel discussions, fireside chats and all that sort of stuff.

So how do you navigate this hulking great monster of a conference? Here are some tips.

1. Bring business cards. A lot of them. Sure, it's a technology conference and everyone will be tweeting, checking in to their geolocation app of choice and even, if they're lucky, swapping hotel room keys, but the real business is done when you get back home, presuming you can remember who's who out of the fistful of cards that tumble out of your hand luggage. I'd say 500 of your own card should do the trick: after all, if you don't give them all away personally, you can always crash the stage and throw them into the crowd in handfuls. Yeah, it'll probably get you thrown out and arrested, but it'll sure as hell get your start-up noticed.

2. Check the programme. There's no point sitting there for every panel discussion - though, mercifully, most of the stuff on stage is limited to 20 minutes. All the exciting stuff happens in the corridors at this sort of conference. At least, it will if you follow step three...

. Make appointments beforehand. Check who's going and contact them before the event, suggesting a time to duck out of the main show and have a chat. If you're clever about this you ought to be arranging at least ten coffees per day. (So, item 3.1: make sure you know where the loos are.) LeWeb is your chance to connect with useful people from all over the world and you shouldn't waste it wandering the corridors eating free bonbons from the corporate stands.

4. Pick one or two of the big names to approach. When you do, make it quick. Tell them exactly why you want to speak to them and offer them your card. Don't take up any more of their time than you have to. If you're in any doubt about how to approach one of the big hitters...

6. Bring a charger, plus whatever adapters you need. I know that sounds ridiculously obvious but you'll be surprised by how quickly your phone battery will die with all the tweeting and emailing. There are power sockets behind every chair, so there's really no excuse to be out of battery by the time the parties start, which is when you'll really need it. Seriously, no excuse. Even if you have an iPhone.

7. Get plenty of sleep beforehand. You'll want to party until the early hours and then be at the conference venue ready to go by 8.30am. This is a lot easier said than done; ask anyone who was at F.ounders.

8. Take naps! Real, actual naps on real, actual beds! There are resting areas at LeWeb with plasma screens in the ceiling (yes, we are living that far into the future) so you can doze but not miss yours truly making a tit of himself on stage or one of the TechCrunch guys making the 94th Aol joke of the day.

9. Take full advantage of the free coffee. There's a Nespresso lounge which last year distributed 15,000 cups of coffee to conference attendees. Stop being so British, barge to the front and grab a cup. Or two cups. (q.v. point 3.1, above)

10. One last thing. Le Meur tells me there's an official dress code at LeWeb, and it is: "No suits!" So unless you're from IBM, or you're a venture capitalist who doesn't own anything that isn't from Savile Row, it's jeans and tees all the way. And if you see someone in a suit, conference rules state that you're allowed to throw your free coffee over them.*

So there you have it. And if all that wasn't enough to whet your appetite, there's a huge party being thrown by one of Europe's most prestigious newspapers; you'll hear about it once you get to Paris. See you there!

(*OK, I may have made that last one up. Don't throw your coffee over any Microsoft SVPs. Please.)